West Chester Man Invents Snowmelt Derby to Escape Winter Boredom

Bob Mina's annual backyard snow-melting competition has attracted over 100 players from around the world.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Bob Mina, an IT professional from West Chester, Pennsylvania, created the Snowmelt Derby in 2014 as a way to pass the time during a particularly cold and snowy March. The rules are simple: Mina's friends and family guess the date and time when all the snow in his backyard will melt, and the closest guess without going over wins a batch of homemade cookies. What started as a small game among friends has grown to over 100 players from as far away as Australia, England, and Canada.

Why it matters

The Snowmelt Derby provides a lighthearted distraction from the often gloomy realities of winter, allowing Mina's friends and community to come together in a spirit of friendly competition. In an era of increasing political and social division, Mina sees the game as a way to bring positivity to people's social media feeds and create a shared experience that "can't possibly be made political."

The details

Mina's backyard in West Chester gets very little direct sunlight due to the surrounding trees, allowing snow to linger for surprisingly long periods of time. Players analyze weather forecasts, wind, and dewpoint to try to predict the exact moment the last patch of snow will melt. The competition doesn't end until the final crystals have liquefied, with Mina sometimes having to get down on his hands and knees to confirm the last remnants have disappeared. The winner receives a batch of homemade Toll House cookies.

  • Mina created the Snowmelt Derby in March 2014 during a particularly cold and snowy period.
  • This year's competition is expected to run until July 4.

The players

Bob Mina

An IT professional from West Chester, Pennsylvania who created the Snowmelt Derby as a way to pass the time during long winters.

Tommy Leonardi

A friend of Mina's through dragon boat racing who has been playing Snowmelt Derby for over a decade, though he has yet to win.

Kathy Burke-Howe

The only two-time champion of the Snowmelt Derby, who often bases her guesses on her favorite number or significant family dates.

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What they’re saying

“It's mindless. It's pointless. It involves no skills. It's just fun. And by the time it's over, we're almost to spring. It's the ultimate timekiller.”

— Bob Mina (whyy.org)

“I love the absolute lack of predictability. Do we have any idea what the weather's going to be like in March? I mean, sure — you can look at the long-range stuff. But Mother Nature bats last.”

— Bob Mina (whyy.org)

“If they can open Facebook and instead of being fed bad news and dour-faced predictions and articles meant to antagonize, but rather, how's the snow doing? … When's it going to melt? Even those few minutes, it's just an escape.”

— Bob Mina (whyy.org)

What’s next

This weekend's warm weather is expected to be a key factor in determining when the last of the snow in Mina's backyard will finally melt, with over 100 players eagerly awaiting the outcome.

The takeaway

The Snowmelt Derby is a delightfully simple and lighthearted competition that brings a sense of community and shared experience to Mina's friends and neighbors, providing a much-needed escape from the stresses and negativity of the real world during the long winter months.